Medical History
Her medical history is pertinent for mild persistent extrinsic asthma (precipitated by dust, strong odors, tree pollen, and aspirin) that was diagnosed when she was a teenager. She is currently taking Flovent® (flucticasone) steroid inhaler, Singulair® (montelukast) leukotriene inhibitor, and Serevent® (salmeterol) long‐acting ®‐2 agonist inhaler twice a day. She uses Proventil HFA® (albuterol) inhaler (short acting ®‐2 agonist) as needed (two or three times a week most of the year but daily in the springtime when her allergies are most severe). Her last emergency room visit for asthma was 18 months ago, precipitated by an upper‐respiratory infection. She also takes birth control pills and a multivitamin.
- Allergies:
- No known drug allergies (NKDA)
- Vital signs:
- Blood pressure: 135/85 mmHg
- Pulse: 72 beats/min
- Respiration: 12 breaths/min
- Height: 5′5”
- Weight: 135 lbs
- BMI: 22.5
Social History
Never used tobacco, uses alcohol socially two to three times a month.
Dental History
She uses an electric toothbrush twice a day and flosses occasionally. She had orthodontics as a teenager with four third‐molar extractions to correct “buck teeth.” She has routine periodic exams and cleanings. She has intact occlusal restorations on all molars, as well as buccal restorations on her mandibular molars. Periodontal probing depths <3 mm.
Dental Examination
Extraoral examination is unremarkable. Oral hygiene appears good with no visible plaque. Intraoral soft tissue exam reveals marginal inflammation present on maxillary anterior gingiva. Patchy erythema is noted on posterior palate and oropharynx as well as patchy depapillation of the posterior dorsum of the tongue. Her saliva appears frothy. Upon questioning, the patient states that she often feels that her mouth is dry, especially when she wakes up, and that she frequently “mouth breathes” at night.
Medical Considerations
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that affects 17.7 million (7.4%) adults and 6.3 million (8.6%) children living in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013.) It is characterized by a hyperactive response to stimuli that results in periodic episodes of contractions of bronchial smooth muscle that causes reversible narrowing of airways leading to wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty in breathing. Exposure to a variety of triggers (allergens such as dust, pet dander, mold and pollen; respiratory irritants such as tobacco smoke or pollution; upper‐respiratory infections, exercise, cold air) result in the release of histamine and cytokines that cause bronchospasm, hypersecretion of mucus, and impaired mucociliary clearance in the bronchi and bronchioles. Most patients have mild to moderate disease and have normal function with minimal symptoms between acute exacerbations. Classification of severity of disease is based on presence of symptoms (particularly nocturnal symptoms), interference with normal activity, decrease in lung function, and need for short‐acting (or rescue) medications. There are four levels of asthma severity: intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent based on the frequency of symptoms, presence of nocturnal symptoms, and the effect on pulmonary function before treatment (National Asthma Education Program 2007).
Medical management of asthma includes reduction in risk factors by minimization of exposure to triggers and management of inflammation and acute symptoms. The goals of treatment are to:
- prevent chronic symptoms and progressive loss of lung function,
- maintain normal activity levels,
- decrease the need for rescue medications, and
- prevent exacerbation of acute attacks and minimize hospital visits (National Asthma Education Program 2007).
Pharmacologic management of asthma is divided into controller or maintenance drugs that are taken chronically to control and prevent asthma symptoms and reliever or rescue drugs that are used to relieve acute symptoms. Medications with different pharmacologic actions are added in a controlled manner depending on the severity of the symptoms. Common medications include:
Reliever/Rescue Drugs
- Rapid‐onset/short‐acting drugs that are used to treat acute symptoms and have immediate effect
- Short‐acting β2 agonists
- Albuterol (Proventil®, Ventolin®, ProAir®) levalbuterol (Xopenex®), metaproterenol, pirbuterol, terbutaline
Controller/Maintenance Drugs
- Slow‐onset/long‐acting drugs that are used to treat the underlying inflammatory component but have no immediate effect
- Long acting β2 agonists
- Arformoterol, (Brovana®), formoterol (Fordil®), salmeterol (Serevent®)
- Anti‐cholinergics
- Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent®), tiotropium (Spiriva®), methylxanthines, theophylline
- Mast cell stabilizers
- Cromolyn, nedocromil
- Corticosteroids (inhaled)
- Beclomethasone (Qvar®), budesonide (Pulimcort®), fluticasone (Flovent), mometasone
- Corticosteroids (systemic)
- Dexamethasone, fludrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists
- Montelukast (Singulair®), zafirlukast, zileuton (Zyflo®)
- Combination inhalers
- Fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair Diskus®), ipratropium/albuterol (Combivent®), budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®)
- Long acting β2 agonists
Oral side effects of asthma drugs include xerostomia and potential increased caries risk (short‐ and long‐acting β2 agonists and anticholinergics) and oropharyngeal candida (inhaled steroids).
Dental Considerations
Elective care should only be done on asymptomatic, well‐controlled patients. Patients exhibiting symptoms (wheezing, coughing or history of an acute attack within the last 24 hours) should be rescheduled. Patients should be asked about:
- Triggers of acute attacks
- Frequency and severity of symptoms and acute attacks
- Emergency room visit and hospitalizations
- Attack management
- Treatment
- Controller drugs
- Rescue drugs and frequency of use
- Presence of symptoms currently
- If patient uses a short‐acting bronchodilator, is the inhaler present?
Reduction or elimination of agents known to be triggers for the patient should be attempted. These include
- Minimizing exposure to materials with strong or irritating odors (disinfectants, methylacrylate).
- Be careful when using particulate irritants like prophy paste.
- Avoid having the patient sit with mouth open for prolonged periods of time to avoid drying out the oropharynx and precipitating coughing.
- Carefully position cotton rolls and suction tips to avoid stimulating the cough reflex.
- Temperature in the operatory should be kept moderate.
- Positioning patients who have difficulty breathing when fully reclined in a semisupine position.
Patients with drug‐related xerostomia should be educated about the potential of increased caries risk and an aggressive prevention plan should be initiated including regular dental appointments and daily fluoride supplements. Strategies such as sipping water frequently, using sugarless gum and mints, avoiding alcohol containing oral products and using over the counter salivary substitutes can be initiated (Table 10.2.1) to increase patient comfort but do not decrease the risk of caries. Patients who use inhaled steroids should be monitored for candidiasis and treated with antifungal medications as needed. Use of a spacer and instructing patients to rinse their mouths out with water immediately after use can help decrease the incidence of fungal infections.
Table 10.2.1: Specific Considerations for this Case.
| Issue | Potential problem | Management |
| Asthma |
|
|
| Bleaching procedure | Potential triggers
|
|
| Acute attack |
|
|
| Medication induced xerostomia |
|
|
| Inhaled steroid use |
|
|
| Mouth breathing | Anterior gingival inflammation | Nightly application of dry mouth treatment gel to affected area |
Take‐Home Hints
- Update medical history at every visit in terms of asthma activity, increased frequency of use of rescue medications and any changes in or presence of symptoms.
- Elective dentistry should only be performed on asymptomatic patients. The presence of coughing, wheezing or an upper‐respiratory infection necessitates reappointment.
- Make sure patient has taken most recent scheduled dose of antiasthma medications.
- Be aware of potential triggers present in the office and reduce or eliminate exposure.
- The patient’s own short‐acting β2 agonist should be readily available.
- Have the patient take a prophylactic dose of short‐acting β2 agonist immediately prior to procedure.
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